Memorial High School is hosting a parent forum on May 3 at 7:00pm. The forum will feature author Anastasia Goodman, who has written Totally Wired: What Teens and Tweens are Really Doing Online. The forum will focus on cyber-bullying, cheating and plagiarism, social networking, and the good and bad of the internet. More information from the Houston Chronicle's This Week article by Annette Baird appears after the jump.
Memorial High to host parent forum
Cyber-bullying, plagiarism among topics to be discussed
Chronicle Correspondent
Cyber-bullying, cheating and plagiarism, social networking and all the other stuff — good and bad — that comes with kids and the Internet will be topics of discussion at an upcoming parent forum at Memorial High School.
San Francisco-based blogger and writer Anastasia Goodstein will discuss teens and technology and the challenges brought about by being totally wired. She will also talk about how teens use technology in positive ways, what sites are most popular and the pros and cons of these sites.
Parents will have the opportunity to ask questions at the free event, sponsored by the school's parent network. The forum, open to the general public, is at 7 p.m. May 3 in the auditorium. The school is at 935 Echo Lane.
Goodstein is the author of "Totally Wired: What Teens and Tweens Are Really Doing Online" and founder of Ypulse, a blog designed to help teens and parents understand and make the best use of technology.
Sue Stewart, who helped organize the event, said Goodstein is a good connect between teens and parents.
"She is real clued in to the tech world, and she can translate what's going on," Stewart said.
A self-confessed teenage rebel, Goodstein, 35, said in an e-mail she has a sense of empathy towards teens and has spent most of her career creating media for teens and young adults.
"Since this generation has grown up 'totally wired' with the Internet and cell phones, it has not only transformed the way that teens interact with media and marketers, but also with each other, their parents and teachers," Goodstein wrote.
Goodstein said the biggest concern is the public nature of the Internet, which raises the stakes when teens post inappropriate content.
"College admissions staff and employers now Google potential candidates," Goodstein said.
Goodstein said though there are marketers and predators waiting to take advantage of 'tweens and teens online, the good news is the kids are slowly starting to get what's going on.
"But there's still a big need for parents to really engage with their kids and discuss," she said.
Goodstein's book, published by St. Martin's Press, will be on sale during the event.
The book site and blog, including a link to a discussion guide for book clubs and Parent Teacher Associations, is www.totallywiredbook.com.
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